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The committee's ranking Democrat Sen. Maria Cantwell, of Washington, said in her opening statement that her constituents have questions about why the administration has proposed steep fee increases at some national parks while they are "hearing about private jet rides and expensive doors."

Cantwell asked Zinke if he thought a private jet flight from Las Vegas to Nevada was a mistake.

"Insults, innuendos are misleading. I never took a private jet anywhere," he said.

One of those included a $12,000 flight from Las Vegas to Montana. The department's inspector general is investigating whether all the rules were followed to approve those trips, as well as multiple helicopter trips totaling more than $53,000, according to documents reported by the Associated Press.

Alex Edelman/CNP/Polaris/Newscom

U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, speaks to hearing witnesses during a hearing held by Senate Democrats on protecting children from gun violence on Capitol Hill, March 7, 2018, in Washington.

"I resent the fact of your insults. I resent the fact they're misleading, I resent the fact of the doors, and I'll go through line by line," he added of questions about spending.

.@SenatorCantwell asks about private jet travel.@SecretaryZinke: "Insults, innuendos are misleading. I never took a private jet anywhere." He also says, "I resent the fact of your insults. I resent the fact they're misleading."

Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, who traveled with Zinke on one of the trips to northern Alaska, said they had to fly because it was not possible to drive.

In response to comments about his travel from Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, Zinke said that all of his decisions are approved by the department's lawyers and ethics officials.

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Interior secretary took pricey private flights

"Senator I've been shot at before I'm very comfortable with it," he said, referencing his time as a Navy SEAL. "Do right, fear no man, do the best you can, everything I do is scrutinized and I'm willing to take a tax on myself, I don't like the tax on my family, my kids, which I get raked all the time but we're pretty tough. We're a military family we're pretty tough about it."

He also addressed the suggested increase in national park admission and other fees.

The department has proposed increases in entrance fees at 17 of the most popular national parks to help pay for $11.6 billion in deferred maintenance throughout the National Park Service. The proposal would impose higher fees at parks like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone during the busiest part of the year and is expected to increase national park revenue by $70 million a year.

Zinke defended that proposal in the hearing, saying that park fees alone will not be enough to address all the maintenance needed in national parks.

"All Americans should have the opportunity to enjoy a national park but without an investment in our infrastructure to go with our record-setting amount of visitors we are loving our parks to death," Zinke said in his opening statement.

He said the department is still looking into the fee increase and has not made a final decision.

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, had a heated exchange with Zinke during the hearing.

Wyden asked the secretary about the budget's elimination of a fund that invests money earned from leases for offshore drilling to protect public lands and national parks. Wyden said he did not think President Theodore Roosevelt, who Zinke often cites as a personal hero, would support eliminating the fund.

Wyden added a personal comment that his decision to support Zinke's nomination was "one of the biggest regrets of my time."

CComments

Kathleen King

2018-03-14T11:08:58

Zinke has proven himself EXACTLY like the other Trump cabinet despite high hopes to the contrary. He HATES his own Department, despises the professional staff, does not respect the missions of the various Interior agencies, and generally enriches and favors his own and his family and their friends. Bought and paid for by "dark money" and prejudice.

He can "push back" all he wants, but that won't make his actions acceptable. There are no insults or innuendos behind calling him out on paying five figures for quick plane trips and six figures for the door to his office.

"... The department has proposed increases in entrance fees ... to help pay for $11.6 billion in deferred maintenance throughout the National Park Service. The proposal would impose higher fees ... and is expected to increase national park revenue by $70 million a year...."

Hmm. Needs = $11.6 _billion_. Fee hikes = $70 _million_. I don't think last year's "tax cut bill" is slated to make up the difference, either. Is this some of that newfangled "DeVos math"?

I'm not sure I am overly opposed to an increase in park fees, with caveats that the money is not diverted into some fat cat's bank account. The beauty of our national parks should be preserved and protected for future generations.

Now then ...

As others have said, Zinke is only upset that he got caught, and I am 99.9999% sure that he feels absolutely no remorse. He is one of the flagship members of the oligarch class that Trump sought to introduce - he, like Mnuchin, believes they are above being held accountable for anything they do.

A $12,000 cost for a flight from Las Vegas to Montana? Really? I lived in Tokyo for many years and I can tell you that we flew coach on a round trip ticket for around $1,100.00 That means I could have flown that roundtrip flight for about twelve years for what it cost the tax payers for this man to do one trip from Las Vegas to Montana. How does that add up? These folks get into a favored spot and they think they can do anything they want.

What happened to the horse that brung him? His noble steed Tonto that he rode to work on his first day. "Zinke rode the horse — a bay roan gelding just over 17 hands tall — less than a mile, from the National Park Service's stables on the National Mall to the Department of the Interior."

What's next, $13,000/person Mansion tickets for the Kentucky Derby? He can make it a Mnuchin and swing by Ft. Knox on his way to Churchill Downs.

They always think these outrageous expenses are fine when they do them behind closed doors. Then when they get caught and people demand accountability it's always someone else's fault or responsibility. Well so and so authorized it. Well so and so did something worse. Pathetic. They approach life like an 8 yo caught cheating.